A Christmas Carol

Enough for Him whom cherubim
Worship night and day,

A breastful of milk

And a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him whom angels Fall down before,

The ox and ass and camel

Which adore.

Angels and archangels

May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air:
But only His mother,

In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved

With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man

I would do my part,—

Yet what I can I give Him:
Give my heart.

CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

72.

MASTERS, IN THIS HALL

O Bethlem did they go, the shepherds three;

Ti

Whether Christ were born or no

To set men free.

Masters, in this hall,
Hear ye news to-day
Brought over sea,

And ever I you pray,

were so or no,

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!

Sing we clear!

Holpen are all folk on earth,

Born is God's Son so dear.

Going over the hills

Through the milk-white snow,

Heard I ewes bleat

While the wind did blow.
Nowell, &c.

Shepherds many an one

Sat among the sheep;
No man spake more word
Than they had been asleep.
Nowell, &c.

Quoth I, Fellows mine,

Why this guise sit ye?
Making but dull cheer,
Shepherds though ye be?'
Nowell, &c.

Masters, in this Hall

'Shepherds should of right Leap and dance and sing; Thus to see ye sit

Is a right strange thing.'
Nowell, &c.

Quoth these fellows then,

"To Bethlem town we go,

To see a mighty Lord
Lie in manger low.'
Nowell, &c.

'How name ye this Lord, Shepherds?' then said I. 'Very God,' they said, 'Come from heaven high.' Nowell, &c.

Then to Bethlem town

We went two and two,

And in a sorry place
Heard the oxen low.
Nowell, &c.

Therein did we see

A sweet and goodly May, And a fair old man;

Upon the straw she lay.
Nowell, &c.

Masters, in this Hall

And a little Child

On her arm had she;
'Wot ye who 'This is?'
Said the hinds to me.
Nowell, &c.

Ox and ass Him know,
Kneeling on their knee:
Wondrous joy had I

This little Babe to see.
Nowell, &c.

This is Christ the Lord,

Masters, be ye glad!

Christmas is come in,

And no folk should be sad.

Nowell, &c.

WILLIAM MORRIS

73. OUTLANDERS, WHENCE COME YE LAST?

UTLANDERS, whence come ye last?

OUT

The snow in the street and the wind on the door. Through what green sea and great have ye passed? Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

From far away, O masters mine,

The snow in the street and the wind on the door.

We come to bear you goodly wine:

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

Outlanders, whence come

From far away we come to you,

ye

last?

The snow in the street and the wind on the door.

To tell of great tidings strange and true:
Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

News, news of the Trinity,

The snow in the street and the wind on the door. And Mary and Joseph from over the sea:

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

For as we wandered far and wide,

The snow in the street and the wind on the door. What hap do ye deem there should us betide? Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

Under a bent when the night was deep,

The snow in the street and the wind on the door. There lay three shepherds tending their sheep: Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

"O ye shepherds, what have ye seen,

The snow in the street and the wind on the door, To slay your sorrow and heal your teen?' Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

In an ox-stall this night we saw,

The snow in the street and the wind on the door, A Babe and a maid without a flaw.'

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.